Pink blood is likely due to your cervical fluid mixing with your period blood and lightening the colour – you may notice this on days when your flow is light, like at the end of your period.
Your blood may appear pink in color at the beginning or end of your period, especially if you're spotting. This lighter shade usually means that the blood has mixed with your cervical fluid. Sometimes pink menstrual blood may indicate low estrogen levels in the body.
Common causes
Normal period bleeding: Depending on your cycle length, you may notice pink discharge at the start or end of your period. As the uterus sheds its lining, bleeding can range from light to heavy flow. Lighter flow tends to look pinker, especially if it mixes with normal vaginal discharge.
Color: Menstrual bleeding is typically a bright to dark red, and will look like what you typically experience during your monthly period. Implantation bleeding is a much lighter hue, typically a very light pink or light rust color.
Implantation bleeding
The fertilized egg has to burrow into the lining to implant — and the result can be a spectrum of discharge or spotting, from light pink to red to brown. Implantation bleeding usually occurs when you'd expect your period, but it will definitely be lighter than menstrual bleeding.
Pink blood is likely due to your cervical fluid mixing with your period blood and lightening the colour – you may notice this on days when your flow is light, like at the end of your period.
Your cycle should last 26-32 days - anywhere in between is fine as long as it is regular and consistent for you. Your bleed should be the color of cranberry juice from start to finish, with no clots. A nice, strong, flow that isn't inconveniently heavy and has you running to the bathroom every hour.
If you are a woman of childbearing age, the presence of a pink discharge when you wipe (a reddish, pink or brown appearance with no smell), in the first few days before your period starts or after it ends, is normal and should not cause alarm.
Spotting is light bleeding usually associated with the menstrual cycle. But, a range of other factors can cause it, including birth control pills, pregnancy, polycystic ovary system (PCOS), and stress.
A woman's ovulation cycles can vary, so it's statistically possible you could become pregnant while on your period. While pregnancy is less likely in the earlier days of your period, the chances increase in the later days.
Spotting is light bleeding that can occur between periods. It usually appears as a small amount of blood when wiping or on underwear. Possible causes include birth control, pregnancy, menopause, and more.
“Some common causes of light menses include changes in weight, thyroid issues, perimenopause, stress, contraception, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), to name a few,” says Somi Javaid, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., board-certified OB/GYN and founder and Chief Medical Officer at HerMD.
Implantation bleeding is brown, dark brown or slightly pink. It's considered spotting or light bleeding. It shouldn't be heavy enough to soak through a pad. Implantation bleeding resembles the flow of vaginal discharge more than it resembles the flow of your period.
Menstrual bleeding might happen every 21 to 35 days and last 2 to 7 days. For the first few years after menstruation begins, long cycles are common. However, menstrual cycles tend to shorten and become more regular as people age.
If you have a hormone imbalance – i.e. too much or too little oestrogen, or progesterone – this can lead to pink discharge. Other signs of this are irregular or heavy periods.
There are several reasons why some women have minor bleeding (spotting) between periods. It could be as simple as too much stress, too little sleep or certain medications.
Pinkish-brown discharge or spotting is common around the time of a person's period, but it can also happen at other times because of ovulation, pregnancy, or health problems. However, this color of discharge is rarely a cause for concern.
Pregnancy-specific symptoms
While your breasts may feel tender during PMS, they can be tender during the early stages of pregnancy as well. “You may also be pretty fatigued,” Giles added. “The key difference between the two, however, is that with pregnancy, your period doesn't occur.”
In early pregnancy, you might get some harmless light bleeding, called "spotting". This is when the developing embryo plants itself in the wall of your womb. This type of bleeding often happens around the time your period would have been due.
Color: Blood from your menstrual period is usually bright red, while bleeding from implantation usually ranges from light pink to dark brown.